Carol had been confined in an interview room for hours. First, in spite of her protestations that she was absolutely fine, they’d had to wait for a doctor to confirm that she was well enough to be questioned. Then there had been a certain amount of discussion about the dog. Carol had refused to leave Flash locked in the Land Rover indefinitely and the dog team had pointed out it was nothing to do with them. Eventually, before she’d disappeared upstairs, an exasperated Fielding had said Carol could keep the bloody dog with her and claim it was a guide dog if anybody complained.

Then Carol had refused to be interviewed by anyone except Paula, which meant she had to wait till she was free.

When Paula finally sat down with Carol, it was almost midnight. Paula set down two tall cardboard cups. ‘Not cop-shop crap, proper coffee-shop coffee from the all-night stand by Central Station.’ She dug a paper bag out of her pocket. ‘And a couple of muffins. Slightly squashed, I’m afraid.’

‘Caffeine and sugar. That should do the trick,’ Carol said. She broke off a chunk of her muffin and dropped it at her feet, where Flash wolfed it before it hit the ground. ‘Has Fielding released Tony yet?’

‘I think she’s doing it now. Me, I’d have done that the minute we arrested Taylor, but she wasn’t taking any chances. Or so she said.’

‘I hardly know the woman, but I’d say she’s not someone who takes it well when she’s proven wrong.’

Paula gave a grim little smile. ‘I’ve a funny feeling I’m not going to be her bagman after tonight.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘I’m not. I don’t want to spend my time running around with a brush and dustpan after someone who can’t keep an open mind.’ She shrugged. ‘There’s other firms. I’m good at my job, people know that. Now, we have to figure out a way to spin this that doesn’t drop anyone in the shit.’

Carol grinned. ‘Just like old times.’

Paula shook her head. ‘No way. Old times was me and Tony figuring out how to avoid you going ballistic at one or both of us for bending the rules.’

Carol’s smile disappeared. ‘I suppose so. Well, one thing we all know for sure. That won’t be happening again.’